You think I have no feelings, and that I can do without one bit of love or kindness; but I cannot live so: and you have no pity.
Young Jane confronts her aunt after a long buildup of small humiliations. The words spill out fast, not polished, which makes them feel true. Repeating “love or kindness” shows exactly what she has lacked, more than food or clothes. Calling out “you have no pity” is risky, but it is also the first time Jane names emotional abuse for what it is. This outburst is not rudeness; it is self-defense after patience has failed. In the book’s pattern, truth-telling often precedes change. The scene also hints at why Jane will later protect her sense of worth so fiercely. Many readers remember the first time they told a hard truth to someone who would not listen.